Dive Into Life

I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. (Romans 1:13 NLT)

John Wesley, the great evangelist and founder of the Methodist church, in his lifetime, traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback preaching, an average of 20 miles a day for 40 years; preached 40,000 sermons ; produced 400 books; and understood 10 languages. At age 83, he was unhappy that he couldn't write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes, and at age 86 he was ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He lamented in his journal that he had an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning. Then, he had woken up four o'clock in the morning for the past 50 years and had preached at 5 o'clock in the morning for the past 60 years. He went about his work methodically, organizing his groups into societies, classes, connections and circuits etc. Wesley was a proactive hard worker. He did not stand at the edge of life looking in but he dived into it completely. No wonder he made so much difference in his lifetime and left a legacy that still endures today.

In our text today, Paul exemplifies similar proactivity in God's assignment. He spoke of his plans to see the Romans many times in the past and how he had been hindered but he never relented. He spoke of his desire to work among the Roman Christians in order to see spiritual fruit as he had seen everywhere. Paul did not give excuses saying he was waiting on God to lead him. From the time God opened his blinded eyes, he began to preach the gospel. This paints the picture of a man, who like Wesley, took his assignment from God seriously, throwing himself fully into it proactively. Paul also dived into life.

It has been said that there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch what happens, and those who wonder what happened. The proactive person is in the first category, they make things happen. Proactivity is the character quality of controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond. This is what Paul and Wesley possessed and it is something everyone has the potential to demonstrate, including you.

Are you taking full possession of your days? Are you one of those Christians who procrastinate or laze around, giving the "waiting on God" excuse? Do you at least have some plans in place for your days (even if God might adjust, discard, replace or defer your plans)? Paul kept moving and sometimes God had to forbid him from going to certain places he had planned to go, readjusting his plans (see Acts 16:6). Someone has said that it is easier to steer a moving vehicle than a stationary one. When you become proactive, obeying God's written instructions to "go" he will guide you by his Spirit. Make up your mind today to become proactive. Take up those things you have delayed and procrastinated. Don't stand at the edge. Dive into life fully and maximize your it like Wesley and Paul did.


Decision of the Day

I will dive into life. I will not hedge or slumber. I am going to be proactive about God's assignment for my life.

Pictures: Hat tip to google images.